Hippotherapy
According to the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc., "Hippotherapy" is a physical, occupational and speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement."
In the hippotherapy environment, a therapist uses the horse's movement to provide carefully graded sensory input. A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Unlike in therapeutic horseback riding where specific riding skills are taught, in hippotherapy the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal.
History: The medical use of the horse which addresses people with neuromotor dysfunction is called Hippotherapy and was developed in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the 1960's. In Germany, Hippotherapy was a treatment by two physiotherapists, a specially trained horse and horse handler. The theories of physiotherapy practice where applied and the physiotherapist would give directives to the horse handler as to the gait, tempo, cadence,and direction for the horse to preform which would affect the patient throughout the therapy treatment. The movement of the horse is carefully modulated to influence neuromuscular changes in the patient. In the late 1980's a group of physical, occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists from Canada and the USA went to Germany to learn about hippotherapy. They brought it back to Canada and the USA.
Presently in the USA: Equine Assisted Therapy is the umbrella term for any specially trained licensed health professional who incorporates the equine environment into a treatment session within their scope of practice and professional designation. Equine Assisited Therapy is the umbrella term which lists Hippotherapy and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Licensed Physical, Occupational Therapists, Physical and Occupational Therapy Assistants and Speech and Language Pathologists incorporate the horse's movement( hippotherapy) into their total plan of care for their patients. In the Mental Health Industry, Social Workers, Psychologists and Mental Health providers may incorporate Equine Assisted Psychotherapy into their treatment sessions. This is different from hippotherapy where the movment of the horse influences or facilitates an adaptive response in the patient. Forms of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy may have the patient on the horse or off the horse and the treatment is not focused on a set of specific movements for the horse to produce an adaptive response in the patient.
= How does the horse help in Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy comes from the Greek roots hippo-, for horse and the word therapy , thus meaning therapy with the help of a horse.The horse's pelvis has the same three dimensional movement of the human's pelvis at the walk. The horse's three dimensional movement is carefully graded at the walk in each treatment for the patient. This three dimensional movement provides physical and sensory input, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The variability of the horse's gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of input to the patient and utilize this movement in combination with other treatment strategies to achieve desired therapy goals or functional outcomes. In addition, the three-dimensional movement of the horse's pelvis leads to a movement response in the patient's pelvis which is similar to the movement patterns of human walking. A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities and address functional outcomes and therapy goals. Hippotherapy can only be provided by a licensed Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Pathologist. Adults and children with disabilities can improve their posture, muscle tone, coordination, balance,sensory/motor development as well as speech and language skills when hippotherapy is incorporated into a total Plan of Care for a patient.
What does hippotherapy help with?
- Gross motor skills
- Speech and language abilities
- Articulation
- Oral Motor skills
- Respiration and postural/core control
- Fine motor skills
- Sensory Processing
- Behavioral and cognitive abilities
Hippotherapy as a treatment strategy for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy
Physical Therapists who have had special training in hippotherapy will incorporate the three dimensional movement of the horse to achieve gait training goals, balance goals, postural / core control goals, and strengthing and stretching. Improvement in gross motor skills and functional activities for developing children with disabilities are gained as the natural environment and variablity of the horse's gait present as new and unique to a child. Coordination and balance as well as equilibrium skills are addressed through the variability of the horse's movment as well as the rhythym, tempo and cadence of the horses movement.
In Occupational Therapy a specially trained Occupational Therapist will incorporate hippotherapy, the movement of the horse, to modulate and organize the sensory systems. Sensory processing via hippotherapy simultaneously addresses the vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, visual, olfactory, and auditory systems. The occupational therapist will incorporate the movement of the horse, hippotherapy, to modulate the sensory system in preparation for a therapy or treatment goal and lead to a functional activity. The reciprocal three dimensional movement of the horse helps with the development of fine motor skills, visual motor skills, bilateral control and cognition as well.
Although many people associate hippotherapy with physical therapy, hippotherapy as a Speech and Language Therapy strategy is growing more common. Hippotherapy uses a horse to accomplish traditional speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing goals. Carefully modulated, well cadenced equine movement offers an effective means of addressing speech and language deficits through facilitation of the physiological systems that support speech and language function. Utilizing hippotherapy, appropriate sensory processing strategies have been integrated into the treatment to facilitate successful communication.
Medical conditions for which hippotherapy is indicated
Some medical conditions for which hippotherapy may be commonly indicated are listed below. However, hippotherapy is not for every patient; specially trained Physical or Occupational Therapists or Speech and Language Pathologists evaluate each potential patient on an individual basis as per their professional designation and within their scope of practice. There are specific contraindications and precautions for some conditions and diagnosis.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Cerebral vascular accident (stroke)
- Developmental delay
- Down syndrome
- Functional spinal curvature (scoliosis)
- Learning or language disabilities
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Sensory Processing Disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
HPCS certification
Hippotherapy Clinical Specialty (HPCS) Certification is a designation indicating board certification of therapists who have advanced knowledge and experience in hippotherapy. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists who have been practicing their profession for at least three years (6,000 hours) and have 100 hours of hippotherapy practice within the three years prior are permitted to take the Hippotherapy Clinical Specialty Certification Examination. Those who pass become board certified in hippotherapy and are entitled to use the HPCS designation after their name. HPCS certification lasts for five years.